+34
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak issued a direct message to supporters Saturday as the club faces the potential of losing its landmark case with the Premier League over alleged financial breaches.
MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak issued a direct message to supporters Saturday as the club faces the potential of losing its landmark case with the Premier League over alleged financial breaches.
City has reportedly been found guilty of nearly all of the 100-plus charges against the club, which could result punishments such as a huge points deduction or even expulsion from English soccer’s top division. The club has always denied wrongdoing and Al Mubarak restated that stance in a letter to fans.
“The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began,” he wrote. “There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position. ” Confidentiality conditions, he said, prevented him from revealing that information.
“While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed,” Al Mubarak said. “We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our club. We will not give them that opportunity.
” The Premier League accused City in February 2023 of providing misleading information about its finances over a nine-year period from 2009-18. Questions about the Abu Dhabi-backed club’s financial dealings have hung over City after supposed leaked emails and documents, likely hacked, were published starting in 2018 by German magazine Der Spiegel.
The documents allegedly showed City tried to mask the source of revenue from deals tied to Abu Dhabi, whose ruling family bought the club in 2008 and has overseen the spending of hundreds of millions of dollars on some of the world’s best players over the following two decades. In 2020, UEFA ruled City had committed “serious breaches” of Financial Fair Play regulations from 2012-16.
But a two-year ban was later overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport because allegations were either rejected or found to have happened too long ago to be investigated. The Premier League’s case, which accused City of more than 100 breaches including providing misleading information about its finances and failure to co-operate with the investigation, has run for more than three years.
City has been the most dominant team in England over the last 15 years, winning eight Premier League titles since 2012 as well as the Champions League in 2023. Over the period in question — 2009-18 — City won the league three times, in 2012, 2014 and 2018. ___ James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson ___ See AP’s full soccer coverage here James Robson, The Associated Press
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Quebec City man accused of planning a chemical attack to benefit ISIS groupMONTRÉAL — Police say a Quebec City resident is facing charges related to an alleged plan to commit a terrorist act on behalf of the Islamic State group.
Read more »
Manchester City Found Guilty on Majority of Premier League Financial ChargesManchester City has been found guilty of nearly all of the more than 100 Premier League charges against it over financial misconduct from 2009-18, according to reports. The club says its legal case remains ongoing and is expected to appeal.
Read more »
Premier Ford not worried about Volkswagen battery plant delayOntario Premier Doug Ford said Friday he is not worried about a two-year delay in the opening of a massive Volkswagen electric vehicle battery plant in southwestern Ontario.
Read more »
Man City ready to fight Premier League after reports that club guilty of almost all 115 chargesClub yet to confirm decision
Read more »